Taming the Bear: Britain in the Second Great War (All The Russias)
Introduction: The Miracle on the Vistula
In 1921, it appeared that the Russian Civil War was almost over; the Ukraine had been crushed, Red forces were advancing into the Caucasus and could even threaten the newly-formed nation of Turkey, and only support from the Royal Navy was keeping the Baltic States alive. The only ray of hope appeared to be in the Far East, where Japanese forces successfully liberated Admiral Kolchak moments ahead of his execution. Worst of all, the Soviet cavalry armies were marching deep into Poland, threatening Warsaw itself. Now had to be the time for action, but Lloyd George had convinced the Entente not to intervene. Then Pilsudski changed the rules of the game, and smashed the Soviet forces in a series of sharp, decisive battles. Although peace talks began, they did not last – Polish forces rapidly began to push on the border, battering back the Red Army as they went.
Lloyd George's foreign policy, the development of several years, had been undone in a week. He fell with speed, protesting all the way but with his few allies shunning him – he would end a columnist for the Manchester Guardian, writing more and more bitter polemics, and crafting a devastatingly brutal history of the Great War. His successor was the core of the anti-Bolshevik wing of the Government, Winston Churchill. Although it was clear that the coalition would collapse with the General Election, and likely that the Labour Party would win, he had some months remaining to 'crush the spirit of Communism, once and for all'.
The French were willing to move if the British would; Major-General Ironside returned to the field, fresh from successes in Persia, and led two divisions of British infantry to support the attack. In the north, Vice-Admiral Cowan led a scratch fleet with Iron Duke as his flagship, as well as the recently completed aircraft carrier Hermes, and recaptured Murmansk, the Royal Marines returning having been driven out just two years before. The French worked in the south, with General Weygand leading four French divisions to support the attack on Kiev, and sending munitions to help stave off defeat in the Caucasus – where British Indian Army forces were heavily engaged. In the East, Japanese forces began to hack into Siberia, with Admiral Kolchak now safely under their control in Vladivostok. Only the United States refused to become involved, and President Harding withdrew from the Entente, stating that, “The United States refuses to become involved in the petty disputes of European warmongers. There is no justification for the spilling of one drop of American blood in this conflict.” Famously, General Groves and many of his men resigned their commissions on hearing this news, instead taking up positions in the Transamur Volunteer Army.
As forces began to carve their way deep into the heart of Russia, it rapidly became clear to all concerned that in order to prevent Russia being carved up by the Entente powers, some sort of accommodation would be required. A cabal of Soviet officers, led by the dismissed Josef Stalin, met with a delegation led by Alexander Kerensky, operating with the support of Pilsudski, Petlura, and Denikin. They guaranteed to bring about peace, on two conditions – no restoration of the Tsar, but instead a democratic government on the French pattern, and a full amnesty for all involved on both sides. To the White Generals, this as beyond their wildest dreams, and it was signed within two weeks. The Entente, which had spend money and blood, were incensed, but Churchill pointed out that the goal of stopping Bolshevism spreading across Europe had been achieved. Poland insisted on retaining the Ukraine, as a semi-independent puppet state, and Japanese preserved Transamur.
The Entente then withdrew, confident that the 'Russian Question' had been well and truly solved. Russia had been surrounded by a cordon of small, puppet states, and had been shorn of its most valuable territories. The country was weak and divided, and under Kerensky seemed to be falling deeper and deeper into a nightmare of its own making.
Until, for the second time in the century, an assassin's bullet changed the world forever...
Taming the Bear: Britain in the Second Great War
Introduction: The Miracle on the Vistula
In 1921, it appeared that the Russian Civil War was almost over; the Ukraine had been crushed, Red forces were advancing into the Caucasus and could even threaten the newly-formed nation of Turkey, and only support from the Royal Navy was keeping the Baltic States alive. The only ray of hope appeared to be in the Far East, where Japanese forces successfully liberated Admiral Kolchak moments ahead of his execution. Worst of all, the Soviet cavalry armies were marching deep into Poland, threatening Warsaw itself. Now had to be the time for action, but Lloyd George had convinced the Entente not to intervene. Then Pilsudski changed the rules of the game, and smashed the Soviet forces in a series of sharp, decisive battles. Although peace talks began, they did not last – Polish forces rapidly began to push on the border, battering back the Red Army as they went.
Improvised Polish armoured car, marching on Minsk in 1921
Lloyd George's foreign policy, the development of several years, had been undone in a week. He fell with speed, protesting all the way but with his few allies shunning him – he would end a columnist for the Manchester Guardian, writing more and more bitter polemics, and crafting a devastatingly brutal history of the Great War. His successor was the core of the anti-Bolshevik wing of the Government, Winston Churchill. Although it was clear that the coalition would collapse with the General Election, and likely that the Labour Party would win, he had some months remaining to 'crush the spirit of Communism, once and for all'.
The French were willing to move if the British would; Major-General Ironside returned to the field, fresh from successes in Persia, and led two divisions of British infantry to support the attack. In the north, Vice-Admiral Cowan led a scratch fleet with Iron Duke as his flagship, as well as the recently completed aircraft carrier Hermes, and recaptured Murmansk, the Royal Marines returning having been driven out just two years before. The French worked in the south, with General Weygand leading four French divisions to support the attack on Kiev, and sending munitions to help stave off defeat in the Caucasus – where British Indian Army forces were heavily engaged. In the East, Japanese forces began to hack into Siberia, with Admiral Kolchak now safely under their control in Vladivostok. Only the United States refused to become involved, and President Harding withdrew from the Entente, stating that, “The United States refuses to become involved in the petty disputes of European warmongers. There is no justification for the spilling of one drop of American blood in this conflict.” Famously, General Groves and many of his men resigned their commissions on hearing this news, instead taking up positions in the Transamur Volunteer Army.
American Siberia Intervention Force withdrawing, April 1921
As forces began to carve their way deep into the heart of Russia, it rapidly became clear to all concerned that in order to prevent Russia being carved up by the Entente powers, some sort of accommodation would be required. A cabal of Soviet officers, led by the dismissed Josef Stalin, met with a delegation led by Alexander Kerensky, operating with the support of Pilsudski, Petlura, and Denikin. They guaranteed to bring about peace, on two conditions – no restoration of the Tsar, but instead a democratic government on the French pattern, and a full amnesty for all involved on both sides. To the White Generals, this as beyond their wildest dreams, and it was signed within two weeks. The Entente, which had spend money and blood, were incensed, but Churchill pointed out that the goal of stopping Bolshevism spreading across Europe had been achieved. Poland insisted on retaining the Ukraine, as a semi-independent puppet state, and Japanese preserved Transamur.
The Entente then withdrew, confident that the 'Russian Question' had been well and truly solved. Russia had been surrounded by a cordon of small, puppet states, and had been shorn of its most valuable territories. The country was weak and divided, and under Kerensky seemed to be falling deeper and deeper into a nightmare of its own making.
Kerensky on his 'Tour of Reconciliation', December 1924
Until, for the second time in the century, an assassin's bullet changed the world forever...
Last edited: